Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:37 am, the temperature is 65 degrees.
Today will be sunny with a high temperature around 81 degrees with a low tonight in the low 60’s. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a high in the low 80’s and a low in the low 60’s.
No rain is predicted this week and through Labor Day.
Little River is flowing at 303 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.30 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 86 cfs. The water temperature is 65.8 degrees this morning.
Many streams in the mountains are flowing higher than normal though there are some on the North Carolina side of the Smokies that are flowing right at normal. Normal in late August is very low.
Water temperatures have been fairly cool at all elevations during the past couple of days. Yesterday, the water temperature peaked at 67.5 degrees at 5:15 pm. Just a few days ago, that number was in the low 70’s earlier this week. Still, it is a good idea to fish in the middle to higher elevation streams where the water is cooler. Look for water temperatures of 65 degrees or cooler.
Fishing is good in the Smokies, though the current is stronger than normal and very strong in some streams or areas in streams. Be careful wading. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs.
Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is good in the lowland rivers. Many of these rivers are flowing higher than normal for late August. Wading will be limited in some. Streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers are all good fly choices.
Lake fishing will be best early or late when the sun is low. Hit the banks with weighted streamers or swimming nymphs. You might do well using foam floating flies or poppers, especially on the cooler lakes.
If you are hoping to fish on a tailwater today, there are some generation schedules you can work with whether you are wading of boating. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater options you have today.
I drove to Kentucky Sunday, to meet my buddy Frank at Lake Cumberland State Park where we had a cabin rented. Frank and I have been best friends since we started the first grade together in 1957.
We fished with our good friend and guide Hagan Wonn, floating the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam. We floated with Hagan Monday and Tuesday.
Fishing for trout was very good, unlike it was a month ago when we were there. The difference was, it was overcast each day this trip, and sunny each day a month ago. Also, the Corps of Engineers has been sluicing 1,600 cfs in addition to the normal generating. So, the river was always fairly high this week.
Trout were taking surface terrestrial dry flies and bead head midges. I fished a foam floating fly exclusively. I actually used a black Knucklehead both days. Frank fished with a terrestrial dry fly and a bead head midge dropper.
He caught more trout than I did, because he was using the midge dropper. I caught more larger trout on the big foam fly, which the smaller trout had a hard time eating. Also, the Knucklehead without a dropper allowed me to get into places near downed trees that a bead head dropper could not get through without becoming snagged.
We caught several trout in the 16” to 18” range and many smaller fish. They were a mix of rainbow, brown and Cutthroat trout. We had a slow period during the afternoon of the first day, but the trout were active most of the time. We had a great fishing trip. It is always good to be with Frank and Hagan. It was also good to come home yesterday. I’m looking forward to going back to work at the shop.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
August 31, 2023
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Parking Tags are now required to park your vehicle inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Tags may be purchased at Visitors Centers, including the center in Townsend. Or, they may be purchased online. You can buy a daily, weekly or annual tag. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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